Does Beto O’Rourke stand a chance at becoming Texas governor?
“The 360” shows you diverse perspectives on the day’s top stories and debates.
What’s happening
Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke announced Monday that he is running for governor of Texas, aiming to become the first Democrat to lead the state since the early 1990s. Next year’s contest will be the third consecutive election cycle in which he’s pursued a bid for a major office, and could potentially be his third consecutive loss.
O’Rourke represented his hometown of El Paso in the House of Representatives for six years before giving up his seat to run for Senate in 2018. Though he came up short in his quest to unseat incumbent Republican Ted Cruz, the surprisingly close race made O’Rourke one of the rising stars of the Democratic Party. Just five months later, he announced his bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. That campaign failed to gain traction in a crowded field, and O’Rourke withdrew from the race in late 2019.
O’Rourke is the clear frontrunner to win his party’s primary to challenge incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking his third term in office. A staunch conservative and ally to former President Donald Trump, Abbott has established a reputation as one of the most assertive promoters of right-wing policies in the U.S. He has aggressively challenged pandemic safety rules like mask and vaccine mandates. Over the past year Abbott has also signed into law strict new voting rules, a significant expansion of gun rights and the nation’s most restrictive abortion law.
Democrats have long considered Texas — the country’s second-most populous state — as a potential game changer that could tip the balance of political power nationwide. But, despite rapidly changing demographics, Republican domination of the state has continued uninterrupted. No Democrat has won a statewide election in Texas since 1994.
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Why there’s debate
Most experts agree that O’Rourke faces a steep challenge if he wants to become governor of Texas. There’s some debate, though, over whether he is simply the underdog in the race or if his campaign is essentially a lost cause.
in the contest, starting with the fact that Texas remains a solidly red state. He also has the power of the incumbency, a massive early fundraising advantage and a new slate of voting laws that experts say most likely will benefit Republicans.
Some local political analysts say it’s unlikely O’Rourke will be able to repeat, let alone surpass, his breakthrough performance in the 2018 Senate campaign. In that race, he was a relative newcomer who benefited from a nationwide blue wave in response to Trump’s presidency. Political trends are expected to help Republicans in 2022. O’Rourke will also have to contend with criticism of some of the left-leaning political stances he took during his presidential…
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